Category Archives: Europe

The endangered Mediterranean monk seal

When you think of seals, where do your thoughts go to? To the Californian coast where the wild sea lions live on the docks? Perhaps you picture the seals playing with a ball in a seal sanctuary, but have you ever heard of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)? You might not have at all, as this kind of seal is endangered and not many of them are left....read more!

A guided tour in Kalmar Castle

‘Are you here for the English tour?’ A young man asked us as he shook our hands and then led us to the first royal room of the Castle. It was a place I had wanted to learn about for the last two years. During my previous visits to Kalmar I found the castle to be closed or we didn’t find a guided tour that matched our agendas. Today we were very lucky to have Filip guiding us in English during a private tour....read more!

Travels to the Netherlands

I will have one week “back home” and I don’t need much time to think about the things I want to do. First of all, ‘home‘ is a word I see different in comparison to many other people. Secondly, going for one week to the place where I have my roots means seeing friends and family. Lastly, it means I get a chance to do the things I always used to do and buy casual items I used to have around me....read more!

Culture from elsewhere makes us see differences between what’s normal and strange. Your perspective changes. Take the bits and pieces of that foreign culture that you like better from yours while staying respectful to their and your own culture.

This summer I realized what the true differences between my Dutch culture and the Greek way of living are. I do start to get confused about the what’s normal and what’s strange part of it. It must be because I’m working around other cultures and taking bits from each foreign culture over the years. Latin cultures, Nordic ones, Southern places, colder areas, island vibes. They all mean something to me and provide me with a different mindset. It gives you a choice of lifestyle.